Melbourne Lawn Care Guide
The Melbourne Lawn Care Calendar
A month-by-month guide to mowing, fertilising, aeration and weed control — tuned for Melbourne's climate and the Buffalo, Kikuyu and Couch lawns most common across the northern and western suburbs.
Know your grass first
Buffalo (Sir Walter, Palmetto)
Soft-leaf, shade-tolerant. Mow 40–50mm in summer. Sensitive to broadleaf herbicides — always check the label.
Kikuyu
Fast-growing, hardy. Mow 25–40mm. Handles heavy traffic; needs regular edging to keep it out of garden beds.
Couch / Ryegrass blends
Fine leaf, sun-loving. Mow 20–30mm. Goes dormant/brown in cold Melbourne winters — that's normal.
Month-by-month calendar
January
Peak summerMowing: Buffalo 40–50mm · Kikuyu 30–40mm
Focus: Deep, infrequent watering (early morning) to build root depth.
- Never scalp — long blades shade soil and reduce moisture loss.
- Skip fertiliser on stressed, dry lawns; wait for a cooler run.
- Sharpen mower blades — torn tips brown out fast in the heat.
February
Late summerMowing: Buffalo 40–50mm · Kikuyu 30–40mm
Focus: Spot-treat summer weeds (paspalum, summer grass) before they seed.
- Water 2–3× per week, deeply, if under no restrictions.
- Top-dress bare patches with a fine sandy loam.
March
Early autumnMowing: Buffalo 40mm · Kikuyu 30mm
Focus: Autumn fertilise — slow-release NPK to rebuild reserves before winter.
- Aerate compacted areas (high-traffic paths, kids' play zones).
- Overseed thin cool-season lawns (rye/fescue blends) as nights cool.
April
Mid autumnMowing: Raise 5mm as growth slows
Focus: Broadleaf weed control — bindii, clover, capeweed germinate now.
- Selective herbicide safe for Buffalo (check for 'Sir Walter safe').
- Clear fallen leaves weekly to prevent yellow patches.
May
Late autumnMowing: Buffalo 45–55mm · Kikuyu 35–45mm
Focus: Last mow of the season is usually late May — leave it slightly longer.
- Apply wetting agent to combat winter hydrophobic soils.
- Final feed with a low-N winter fertiliser if lawn still growing.
June
Early winterMowing: Only as needed — leave taller for warmth.
Focus: Minimise foot traffic on frost-affected lawn.
- Do NOT fertilise warm-season grasses (Buffalo, Kikuyu, Couch) — they're dormant.
- Rake leaves and debris to let light reach the crown.
July
Mid winterMowing: Rarely needed
Focus: Plan spring — book aeration, top-dressing and renovation.
- Sharpen or replace mower blades before spring flush.
- Treat winter weeds (Poa annua, oxalis) with a selective herbicide.
August
Late winterMowing: First light cut as growth returns
Focus: Pre-emergent weed control before summer weeds germinate.
- Light scarify to remove winter thatch on Kikuyu and Couch.
- Test soil pH — Melbourne lawns often benefit from lime.
September
Early springMowing: Buffalo 35–45mm · Kikuyu 25–35mm
Focus: Spring fertilise — balanced NPK to kick-start growth.
- Aerate compacted lawns; top-dress uneven areas with sandy loam.
- Deep water 1–2× per week as temperatures climb.
October
Mid springMowing: Weekly cuts, drop height gradually
Focus: Repair winter damage — patch, overseed (cool-season) or plug (warm-season).
- Follow-up fertilise 4–6 weeks after spring feed.
- Watch for lawn grubs — check by pulling a small patch after warm rain.
November
Late springMowing: Buffalo 40mm · Kikuyu 30mm
Focus: Establish deep-watering rhythm before summer restrictions kick in.
- Mulch clippings back into the lawn to return nitrogen.
- Spot-treat any remaining broadleaf weeds while they're actively growing.
December
Early summerMowing: Buffalo 40–50mm · Kikuyu 30–40mm
Focus: Raise blade height going into peak heat — longer leaf = deeper roots.
- Water early morning to reduce evaporation and fungal risk.
- Skip fertiliser during heatwaves; wait for a milder week.
Prefer to hand it over?
ZenCut handles the whole calendar for Melbourne homeowners — mowing, fertilising, weed control and seasonal cleanups on a fortnightly rhythm. Clean lawns. Sharp results. No shortcuts.
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